Don’t Worry, 2016 Chevrolet Volt Will Be A Profitable Venture For GM

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The Chevrolet Volt’s been a lot of things to a lot of different people. For Chevy Volt buyers, customer satisfaction is one the highest rates in GM’s entire product portfolio, as it liberates drivers from the gas pump during short-range drives, while the gasoline generator engine gives peace of mind once the electric range runs out. For EV-phobic blowhards, the Chevrolet Volt stands as a symbol of pointless engineering, and only exists because of Barrack Hussain Obama. For the shareholder types, the Volt was only one thing.

The 2016 Chevrolet Volt is also 200 pounds lighter than the outgoing model, while the battery sees a 20 percent increase in storage capacity and a 15 percent increase in energy density. Aerodynamics have also been improved, and the new 1.5L generator engine is expected to sip less fuel than the outgoing 1.4L engine while in operation, while at the same time delivering more refinement and less of a droning sound. A sound every Volt owner knows all too well, coupled with the assurance to friends and family that their car is supposed to sound like that and is not broken.

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$10,000 in costs per vehicle built now, or $10,000 from the Volt built in $10,000?
Back in the day, Akerson seemed to say that the Gen II would cost up to $10,000 less than the original, but this sounds slightly different. This sounds like they can build the Volt for less, not that they will sell them for less. But if the original 2011 MY cost less than $42,000 to build each unit, I would be surprised. Conversely, it looks like the current Volt costs around $32,000 to build, given the prices that the larger GM dealer are charging for Volts.

“Akerson said the Detroit-based automaker believes it can decrease the price on the order of $7,000 to $10,000, without decontenting the extended-range vehicle.”

More than a week later I look at my post and realize that I meant to say “or $10,000 from the Volt built in 2011.”
And, yeah, Jack, I probably am reading too much into it, but if the Volt can’t be sold profitably at $29,990 within a year or so, it will remain a niche vehicle and its sales will never take off.